Begonia plant named ‘BBERE14-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Begonia×tuberhybrida  cultivar named ‘BBERE14-0’ is disclosed, characterized by an abundance of outwardly facing, semi double red flowers, bright green, glossy foliage, flexible stems and a short period to begin flowering. The new variety is a  Begonia,  and is normally used as an ornamental garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Begonia×tuberhybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘BBERE14-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a chance discovery. The new varietyoriginated as a chance, whole plant mutation from the, unpatented,variety Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Karels Jomfru Rød’ The new variety wasdiscovered by the inventor, Ola Ingvoldstad, a citizen of Norway, at aresearch greenhouse in Brummendal, Norway during 2008, among a plantingof the parent variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘BBERE14-0’ was first performedin Norway in 2009. ‘BBERE14-0’ has since produced several generations byvegetative cuttings and has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BBERE14-0’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BBERE14-0.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BBERE14-0’ as a new and distinctBegonia×tuberhybrida cultivar:

-   -   1. Abundance of semi-double red flowers    -   2. Bright, glossy green foliage    -   3. Short period for plants to begin flowering    -   4. Flexible plant stems, resisting breakage.    -   5. Outwardly facing flowers.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BBERE14-0’ are similar to plants of theparent variety, Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Karels Jomfru Rød’ in mosthorticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar‘BBERE14-0’ produce semi-double flowers, compared to fully doubleflowers. Additionally, the new variety flowers one week sooner from arooted cutting than the parent, and produces a brighter red flower.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BBERE14-0’ are similar to plants of theunpatented commercial variety, Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Red Multiflora’ inmost horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar‘BBERE14-0’ produce more flexible branches, brighter green, glossierfoliage and more flowers per plant.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BBERE14-0’ are similar to plants of theunpatented commercial variety, Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Chanson Red’ inmost horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar‘BBERE14-0’ produce more flexible branches, brighter green, glossierfoliage and more flowers per plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘BBERE14-0’ grown in a greenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. Thepot size is a commercial 10 inch basket. The plant shown isapproximately 9 months old.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the flowers and foliage. Thephotograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘BBERE14-0’ plants grown in a commercialclimate controlled greenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. Temperatures ranged from15° C. to 28° C. during the day and 18° C. to 22° C. at night Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments weregiven to the plants. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘BBERE14-0’-   Age of plant described: Approximately 9 months.-   Container size of plant described: 10 inch basket.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Vegetative cuttings.-   Time to roots: About 20 days at approximately 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting/liner: About 30 to 35 days at    approximately 20-22° C.-   Root description: Moderately dense, moderately branched, fine,    fibrous, not fleshy, colored near RHS Grey 201C

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding, fleshy annual.-   Pot size of plant described: 10 inch.-   Height: Approximately 32 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 90 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Free branching with numerous lateral    branches occurring from multiple basal branches.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 29 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: More than 50-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Round in cross section.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Color.—Background color near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Main            color is Greyed-Orange 174B.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, shiny.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong, fleshy, flexible.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 2.5 cm on average.

FOLIAGE

-   -   -   Orientation.—Outwardly facing foliage. Varies between 75°            from stem to 105° angle from stem. Curved peduncle,        -   Strength.—Very strong, resists breakage.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Appearance.—Shiny.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 20 per primary lateral branch.        -   Average length.—Approximately 7.7 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2.4 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate, asymmetrical.        -   Margin.—Double serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of lower surface.—Glabrous.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Aspect.—Flat, to slightly recurved. Curve occurring more            towards apex.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Margin            near Red-Purple 61B. Young foliage under side: Near RHS            Green 138B with strong flush near Greyed-Red 180D. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 139A. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Green 138B.        -   Venation.—Type: Palmate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144B. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green            138C with slight flush near Greyed-Red 180C.        -   Petiole.—Length: Average Range Approximately 1.5 to 3.1 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Red            180B. Texture: Pubescent.        -   Stipule description.—Irregularly present, occurring in 1 or            2 per node, non-fleshy, transparent, becoming completely            papery before leaves fully expand. Length: Approximately            0.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 145D with slight flush near Greyed-Red 181 B.            Texture: Glabrous.

Flower

-   Flowering habit: Continuously flowering during Spring and Summer.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Outwardly facing single    flowers arranged in axillary cymes. Cymes held above foliage,    approximately 3 to 5 open flowers per cyme.-   Cyme size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 15 cm.        -   Height.—Approximately 6.0 cm.-   Flower longevity on plant: About 10 days.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Flattened oval.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red 46A.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 5.0 cm.        -   Depth.—Approximately 2.9 cm.-   Tepals:    -   -   Quantity.—Approximately 4 fully expanded, with 2 larger, and            2 slightly smaller. Additionally, 2 more, highly reduced in            size also occurring in mature flowers.        -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.9 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 2.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Broad deltoid.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Aspect.—Flat to very slight undulation.        -   Texture, upper surfaces.—Shiny.        -   Texture, lower surfaces.—Matte.        -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Near RHS Red 45A. When            opening, lower surface: Near RHS Red 45A. Fully opened,            upper surface: Near RHS Red 45A. Fully opened, lower            surface: Near RHS Red 45A. Fading to: Near RHS Red 45C, both            sides.-   Flower bracts:    -   -   Quantity.—2 per cyme, and normally 2 per flower.        -   Shape.—Broad deltoid.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire, slightly dentate near apex.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Aspect.—Slightly rolled inward.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red 53A, base near Yellow-Green 145C.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—Average Approximately 4.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Angle.—About 75° to the lateral branch.        -   Strength.—Moderate, flexible.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, shiny.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 152C with strong flush near Red            53A.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—Average Approximately 2.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Angle.—About 15° to the peduncle.        -   Strength.—Moderate, flexible.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, shiny.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green-Yellow 1C.-   Fragrance: Faint.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—Approximately 25 to 30.-   Anthers:    -   -   Description.—Clublike.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 7B.        -   Pollen.—Not observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.4 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow            3C.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Columnar. Color: Near RHS Yellow 2D. Ovary            Color: Near RHS Yellow 2D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits:    -   -   Fruit.—Description: Winged capsule. Wing Length:            Approximately 0.9 cm. Overall Fruit Length: Approximately            1.4 cm. Overall Fruit Diameter: Approximately 0.8 cm. Color:            Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B with slight flush on edges near            Red 53A.        -   Seed production.—Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures from    approximately 5° to 25° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plantnamed ‘BBERE14-0’ as herein illustrated and described.